My new year's wish is that the clouds will clear long enough before moon rise such that I can try for this comet with my binoculars. If the weather was good, I'd dress up warm and drive to a dark site. The attached SkyTools chart is for my 15x70s on the evening of Jan 1.

A few nights ago I was able to observe the comet using 15x70 binoculars. I had to wake up very early in the morning after the moon had set and when the temperature was very low, but I think it was worth it. The comet was easily found and although quite faint, it was still visible with direct vision.

Good to know it's visible. I'd like to try for it next week at the first opportunity. I've also got 6 open clusters in Ori and Mon I'd like to try for. I'm working through the AL Deep Sky Binocular. Another 3 later this winter in Pup and then I'll have them all.

Good to know it's visible. I'd like to try for it next week at the first opportunity. I've also got 6 open clusters in Ori and Mon I'd like to try for. I'm working through the AL Deep Sky Binocular. Another 3 later this winter in Pup and then I'll have them all.

M46 & M47 are among my favorites... maybe even my favorite binocular pair. They sit there like sisters but they are so different from each other. And there's a lot more happening there at the same time too... But as a binocular pair, these two clusters are at the top of my list.

I removed the SkyTools 3 chart I posted above. Although very recent, my comets file was either in error or out-of-date. The trajectory for C2012 K5 (LINEAR) was incorrect. Other charts with the comet's trajectory close to M 36 were a tip-off.

Happy New Year group! After several days of continuous rain here in the South of the UK we have had a clear day. The atmosphere has been washed clean of pollutants and seeing was good.

I went out soon after dark to look for comet LINEAR, optimistically with my 10x50 Fujinon and no luck. Decided that I would try again with my trusty 20x60s and there it was. At that time I could see a nebulous glow with no real detail and best in averted vision.

Later on when the sky was fully dark I swept it up easily in the 10x50. Best held with averted vision but looking lovely in amongst a rich starfield. Next tried the 15x60 Zeiss and could see a well defined coma with some condensation. In the 20x60s with dark adapted eyes I could now see an elongation in the coma. Time for the big guns and out came the Docter 40x80. In these there was a lot to see. The comet was now more like an elongated fan and with a small condensed nucleus held best with averted vision. A lovely object at high power but I switched back to the 10x50 and enjoyed sweeping between the comet and the auriga clusters.

My sky conditions here were good for transparency and in my rural location I have no direct lighting problems, just distant towns to the east and southwest giving cones of skyglow.

Good luck to the rest of you. I am hoping for a few more nights like tonight. A good start to my observing year!

I spotted the comet this evening in my 15x60 binoculars an hour after Moonrise. It was just a faint indeterminate glow, and the overly bright (6th magnitude) star right next to it was really keeping me from getting a good look at it.

The clouds/snow we've had for a week cleared out; got a chance to look at the comet tonight before moon rise. It was midway between Beta and Theta Aur. In 16x70s it was a diffuse glow seen directly no more than 6' in diameter. No brightening of nucleus or tail that I could see.

It's well away from the 6th mag. star Mark referred to now; since then the comet has moved approx. 23'!

In the 16°F temp, my neck wished I had taken the trouble to set up the Unimount instead of the tall tripod/video head.

I first tried with 10x56, which on this night revealed the bright star in M37 steadily. The comet was seen immediately. Comparing with M78, surface brightness is similar, but the comet is about twice as big. I estimated very roughly 10 arcmin size. It looked rather shapeless, but with a concentration of light to to the SW of center, hardly to say a tail to the NE. My 15x60, which revealed M37 as a fine spray of stars, showed scarcely more of the comet, only making the observation easier.
Ron

I got a decent, neck-cracking view of C/2012 K5 (Linear) around 02:45 PST with my trusty Pentax 20x60 PCF WP II on the Garrett monopod. Seen almost immediately, it was bigger and brighter than expected. Roundish. However, no center brightness was seen. Why? Probably because I was seeing what I can of the center.

I also saw it with my Brunton Eterna 15x51 hand-held and finally with my Fujinon 10x50 FMT-SX on the monopod.

Hope it's clear tomorrow so I can see it next to M 36. Time for the GO Signature 15x70.

Sorry to hear that, Mark. I suppose it's a given that you get lots of cloudy winter weather out your way.

Though it's high desert over here, winter conditions don't make viewing all that great like some might think. Lots of haze due to temperature inversion in the valleys, jet stream overhead frequently, high altitude ice crystals and thin clouds plus my ever-increasing aversion to the cold make it challenging. It was 16°F (-8.8°C) last night while viewing but it dropped to 2°(-16.6°C) by morning...

My view last night is probably my last for a while. We have an azores high building over us which at this time of year means mild weather but wall to wall cloud. Looks like my next chance will be when the comet is well clear of Auriga. Temperature here tonight forecast to be 12c - thats above freezing Rich!